Weekly Jobless Claims Below 500,000
The number of laid-off workers filing unemployment claims dropped more than was expected last week. The number is now at the lowest it’s been in over a year. There is concern that the improvement is temporary, due to the weak economy continuing to push joblessness rates higher. The Department of Labor says that the number [...]
California Water Battle Goes to Congress
A bill to expand a local water recycling program has seen a surprising amount of debate in Congress. The House spent over three hours on Thursday attempting to decide whether or not to allow the creation of six water recycling projects in the area around San Francisco. The bill was eventually passed, but drew the [...]
Michigan Joblessness Rate Climbs to 15.3 Percent
Michigan’s unemployment rate is the highest in the nation, and has crept up to a staggering 15.3 percent, state officials said Wednesday. Last year, the state’s unemployment rate was just under nine percent. The national average is currently just under ten. Rick Waclawek, the director of the state Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic [...]
Job Competition at its Toughest
The number of job seekers competing for each available job has reached the highest point since the beginning of the current recession, according to a recent government survey. This employment crisis is expected to get even worse as companies become more and more reluctant to hire new staff. Top economists expect a jobless recovery, and [...]